Physician urges residents to build up natural immunity against river toxins

STUART - Serious health concerns raised by toxic algae and the continued devastation of the St. Lucie estuary from polluted water being dumped by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has promoted a Treasure Coast physician to issue a plea to any residents who may come into contact with the polluted water to take steps immediately to naturally boost their immune systems to avoid potentially life-threatening health concerns.

Daniel A. Rukeyser, D.C., founder of Vital Wellness Center, says that with recent developments and questionable management of the Okeechobee waterway and the Indian River Lagoon, many Florida residents and national and international visitors are asking, "Just how safe are our rivers and beaches for swimming?"

Rukeyser says to err on the safe side. Anyone who comes into contact with the dangerous water, especially swimmers, triathletes, boaters, and fishermen, should take immediate steps to boost their immune system to avoid waterborne health hazards.

"For open-water swimmers like triathletes, these concerns go way beyond the occasional bathers or tourists inconvenience', said Dr. Rukeyser.

Nothing illustrates this like the "change of venue" of last week's Treasure Coast Challenge, a sprint- and Olympic-distance triathlon originally planned to take place in the Indian River. Dangerously polluted water due to discharge from Lake Okeechobee caused Martin County officials and the race directors to move the event to Jensen Beach Park. But, with rumors of "dirty water" and "toxic algae" moving its way up from the St. Lucie Inlet to Bathtub Beach, locals are asking just how far will this disaster go?

"While much work lies ahead for those ready to take on this complex problem, for most of us the concern lies in what we can do right now to protect ourselves from waterborne toxins. There are some easy natural ways to boost your body's immunity to bacteria and viruses and help your body deal with other toxins such as heavy metals now being dumped in our waters. It's better to be safe than sorry since the dangerous water problem is not likely to go away anytime soon," said Dr. Rukeyser

Rukeyser says there's no need to buy expensive supplements, nature has provided us with the following items to help build up an immunity against toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges.

Lime

Lime juice has a natural antibiotic effect, and has demonstrated effectiveness against the development of cholera, a bacterial disease in the intestine. Try a tall glass of water with plenty of lime juice first thing in the morning.

Garlic and allium compounds

Garlic in addition to members of the Allium genus including onions, leeks, shallots and chives, is renowned for the compound allicin, which exerts antibacterial and antifungal effects. According to a 1999 study, increased garlic concentration reduced bacterial numbers of the microorganisms e. coli and staphylococcus albus. Remember that the antibacterial effect of garlic is lessened after a 30-minute exposure to heat.

The medium-chain fatty acids like lauric acid found in coconut oil have antibacterial, antiviral and antiprotozoal effects. They help destroy pathogens by dissolving the lipids and phospholipids in the fatty envelope surrounding them, resulting in disintegration. The only other abundant source of lauric acid is human breast milk. Coconut oil can be found at health food stores everywhere. Breast milk, not so much.

Cinnamon and honey

Cinnamon is a good antifungal and antibacterial agent. Combine cinnamon and honey for a well-rounded antibiotic effect. Honey has been used for over 2,000 years to suppress the growth of bacteria and fungus. It is active against at least 60 strains of bacteria.

Cranberries

Cranberries are well-known for their ability to help prevent and treat bladder infections, in part because of their antibacterial properties. Cranberries prevent bacteria from latching onto the walls of the bladder and urinary tract.

Turmeric

Turmeric can be used to prevent and treat colds and other internal infections. Cooking can destroy the fragile antibacterial molecules in turmeric, so to retain its health benefits, try using pieces of the root fresh in juices.

Basil

The oils in basil can inhibit bacteria growth. Studies have shown that basil can restrict the growth of E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus bacteria, as well as inhibit growth in strains of bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics.

Cilantro

Cilantro contains the antioxidants camphor, carvone, elemol, geraniol and limonene. Eating it regularly can help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Cilantro kills Salmonella and removes heavy metals such as mercury from the body. Cilantro has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

"Is the toxic water a legitimate health concern that residents should take seriously? When people can see the dangerous algae and can witness what is being done to fish, birds, seagrass and other things living in the water by the toxic water, they know this is nothing to be taken lightly. Protect your health by boosting your immune system, it's the smart thing to do," concluded Rukeyser.

Vital Wellness Center benchmarks success through patient satisfaction, extraordinary care, and wellness. Vital Wellness Center has locations in Stuart and Fort Pierce and provides convenient hours of operation Monday through Friday from 9 am to 7pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 2pm. For additional information call 772-232-4091 in Stuart or 772-882-9788 in Fort Pierce or visit their website at http://www.vitalwellnesscenter.com/

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